I like tools that augment my process and work together. So I use multiple proxies to observe, interrogate and manipulate HTTP traffic.

I use FreePlane for mind mapping, because I can write Groovy Scripts that allow me to output the information in different ways. Here’s an extract to markdown script that I use regularly when creating conference slides and other written material

Simple scripts for use with Freeplane. Contribute to eviltester/mm-script-repo development by creating an account on GitHub.

I write most of my logs as text in markdown format so I can use multiple tools for reporting in different ways, and it is easy to parse for custom tools I write.

I often write scripts to augment my existing tools, or extract information from them, or combine information from multiple tools together. Rather than look for a new tool. Often these are tactical, and just for my use.

I sometimes wonder what other tools I don’t know about, but I don’t maintain a tool list any more. I tend to use a combination of tools, and only look for tools when I have a gap in my modelling, observation, interrogation or manipulation abilities.

It was only as I was writing this extension that I stumbled across @bugreplay which is a commercial cloud tool that captures similar information as the extension I’ve written bugreplay.com

I built this extension because I realised I had a gap in my observation and interrogation abilities… and because I wanted to learn more JavaScript, and experiment with extensions.

Do experiment with multiple note taking approaches and tools to find a way that works for you, based around the process and the software that you test. Caution: spend more time using the tools, than augmenting and looking for new tools. (I’ve fallen into that trap too often)

Actually I wrote it around 2004,2005,2006 but only released it to github in 2012